How do you set up a coffee bar at home?

Where should it go?

Near an outlet, close to water, and out of the main prep zone so it doesn't get buried. A corner of the counter, a cart or a sideboard all work. If you drink iced coffee, closer to the freezer is a bonus.

What do you actually need?

Start small:

• Your brewer. Whatever you use daily.
• Beans or grounds in a sealed jar. Prettier than a bag, too.
• Mugs and two or three tall glasses for iced drinks.
• A tray. It corrals everything and catches drips.
• Ice. An ice bucket or a tray of coffee ice cubes in the freezer.
• A small jar of simple syrup if you sweeten. Keep it in the fridge.

If it doesn't get used weekly, it lives in a cabinet.

How do you make iced coffee the star?

Make it easy. Keep a jar of cold brew concentrate in the fridge so iced coffee is a 30-second pour. The US coffee industry's trade association suggests about 1 part coffee to 4 or 5 parts water, steeped around 12 hours. For the full method, here's how to make iced coffee at home that isn't watery.

How do you keep it looking good?

• Wipe the tray daily. Coffee rings are the enemy.
• Clean the brewer on a schedule. Follow your machine's manual for descaling.
• Edit monthly. Half-empty syrups and souvenir mugs creep in.
• One decor piece, not ten. A plant and one framed print is plenty.

How do you print it at home or at a print shop?

The download comes in several sizes, so start with your frame and pick the file that matches it. Sizes run from 4 x 6 up to 18 x 24 inches, in 2:3, 3:4 and 4:5 shapes plus 11 x 14, and A5, A4 and A3 for metric frames.

• At home: small sizes print fine on a home printer. Think 4 x 6, 6 x 8 or 8 x 10 on letter paper, or A5 and A4.
• Bigger sizes: take 11 x 14 and up, A3, and anything up to 18 x 24 to a local print or copy shop.
• Paper: ask for matte or satin poster paper, or a heavy cardstock.
• The file: every size is a 300 dpi file, with a full-size PDF too. Bring it on a USB stick or email it to the shop. Don't send a screenshot.

When a print fits, and when it doesn't

Our Iced Coffee Club menu print is a $5.99 digital download in multiple sizes up to 18x24, which you print yourself, so nothing ships. It's an 18 x 24 café-style menu with golf and racing "prices". The Front Nine is cold brew, black ("No small talk."), par 3. The Turn is an iced oat latte. The Back Nine is an espresso tonic. Pit Stop is a double shot over ice ("Lights out."). The 19th Hole is an affogato ("You earned it."), par 5. It's red, forest and gold on cream, with monstera leaves in the corners. It's drawn in-house, and the menu is for decoration, not a recipe guide.

It fits if you want one piece above the coffee bar that makes the corner feel like a café. The Clubhouse Set of 3 adds our golf and racing prints for $12.99.

Skip it if your wall is already busy. A small plant does a lot here too.

Want the coffee bar on your cleaning routine? The Cleaning Schedule Printable is a daily, weekly and monthly home checklist. For picking a routine format, see our cleaning schedule guide.

FAQ

What do you need for a home coffee bar?

Start with your brewer, beans in a sealed jar, mugs, a couple of tall glasses, a tray and ice. Add a grinder or syrups only if you use them often.

Where should a coffee bar go in a small kitchen?

Pick a corner near an outlet and the sink, out of the main prep area. A rolling cart works well if counter space is tight.

How do you keep a coffee bar clean?

Wipe the tray every day, clean the brewer on the schedule in its manual and clear out anything you haven't used in a month.